Evaluation of Pot Phalaenopsis Orchids for Vegetative and Flowering characteristics under Shadenet House and Poly House Condition

Author: S. Ramya, V.A. Sathiyamurthy, M. Ganga, A. Senthil and R.K. Kaleeswari

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Abstract

Phalaenopsis (Phalaenopsis sp.) is an economically significant ornamental potted plant around the world. Though Phalaenopsis orchids are slow in growth, the appropriate growing environmental condition greatly helps in hastening the vegetative phase because the growth of phalaenopsis is greatly influenced by environmental signals. A study was conducted at the Botanical Garden, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to evaluate the effect of two different environmental conditions viz., Shade net house and polyhouse on plant growth and development during the flowering phase with 8 varieties of Phalaenopsis orchid. Among the eight varieties evaluated in the study, Washington showed the maximum plant height (28.67 cm), leaf length (23.08 cm), leaf breath (6.94 cm), internodal length (1.49 cm) and no. of roots (20.98) under shade-net house condition whereas under the poly house condition Bilbao showed the maximum plant height (26.75 cm), leaf length (23.02 cm), leaf breath (6.84 cm) and internodal length (1.41 cm). Under shade- net house, the flowering parameters viz., floret length (7.09 cm) and floret diameter (7.55 cm) recorded maximum in the variety Volterra, while spike longevity (62.99 days), no. of flowers per spike (4.96) and no. of spikes per plant (2.00) recorded maximum in the variety Washington and the days taken for spike emergence (307.64 days) and first floret opening (360.98 days) was earlier than other varieties. Under poly house condition, the variety Bilbao had better performance in flowering parameters than the others. Evaluation of vegetative and flowering parameters resulted in the conclusion that the variety Washington, Bilbao, Nottingham, Andorra and Durban had the great adaptability under the tropical condition. While evaluating the performance of two different environmental conditions, the shade-net house recorded maximum vegetative growth and flowering of Phalaenopsis orchid than the polyhouse. The study aids in determining the ideal pot Phalaenopsis orchid variety for tropical climatic condition as well as the favourable growing environment for better growth and development of Phalaenopsis orchid.

Keywords

Phalaenopsis, Orchids, Environmental conditions, Shadenet house, Poly house, Vegetative parameters, Flowering parameters

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide practical implications for Phalaenopsis farmers to cultivate under tropical condition. From the study has been revealed that shade-net house showed the better performance of Phalaenopsis orchid than polyhouse in terms of both vegetative and flowering characters under tropical condition. It is concluded that among the eight varieties studied, the variety Washington showed the maximum vegetative and flowering parameters viz., Plant height, Leaf length, Leaf breadth, Internodal length, Number of roots per plant, Spike longevity, Number of flowers per spike and Number of spikes per plant under shade-net house condition. While under polyhouse condition, the variety Bilbao showed the maximum vegetative and flowering parameters viz., Plant height, Leaf length, Leaf breadth, Internodal length and Number of spikes per plant. Therefore, from the current investigation it is interfered that the variety Washington showed the better adaptability under tropical condition followed by Bilbao, Nottingham, Andorra and Durban while Cali was the least performing variety which did not even produce the spike during the trial period. Thus, this variety does not suit the tropical growing conditions.

References

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How to cite this article

S. Ramya, V.A. Sathiyamurthy, M. Ganga, A. Senthil and R.K. Kaleeswari (2023). Evaluation of Pot Phalaenopsis Orchids for Vegetative and Flowering characteristics under Shadenet House and Poly House Condition. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 86-94.